Lysefjord Cruise and Pulpit Rock Hike in One Day

Most people come to Stavanger for two reasons – to see the famous Lysefjord and to do one of the most iconic hikes of Norway – Preikestolen, or the Pulpit Rock. When I first started planning our 2-week Norway trip, however, I thought that you need two days to visit both. Every guidebook, every website seemed to suggest that Lysefjord and Pulpit Rock require two separate trips on two separate days. After some research and with the help of friendly people at Stavanger – Ryfylke region tourism, we found the best alternative – LysefjordCruise and Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) hike combination in one day with Rodne Fjord Cruise.

Our boat – Rodnge Fjord Cruise

If you have more time in Stavanger, you can of course make these two trips separately. However, there is so much more to see and do in this beautiful region. If you can save some time (and money) by combining these two trips in one day, it leaves you more time to explore the amazing museums in Stavanger (the Norwegian Canning Museum is a must!) or do some more hiking in the area (we highly recommend Florli 4444).

Stavanger is a perfect base for hiking and outdoor enthusiasts, so if you love nature, plan at least 3-4 nights in town.

Lysefjord cruise and Pulpit Rock hike in one day

Traveling around Stavanger region might seem a bit overwhelming at first. For example, to get to the Pulpit Rock trailhead you need to take a ferry, a bus, and then again a bus and a ferry back. And then you still didn’t see the famous Lysefjord… But you don’t have to worry about any practicalities if you book this combination trip, as everything is extremely well organised and explained. Here is how our day looked like.

Lysefjord cruise and Pulpit Rock hike trip map

Lysefjord cruise

At 10AM we took a boat from Skagenkaien right in Stavanger city centre. We spent a bit more than two hours on the water sailing deep into the Lysefjord, passing some beautiful islands and idyllically located colourful houses that are so typical for Norway.

How idyllic is this coastline scenery!

The whole cruise from beginning till the end is simply stunning

The boat is big and comfortable, it has all the facilities and a beautiful indoor setting area with huge windows on all sides, or you can choose to stand on one of the decks outside. On the morning we visited, we had the worst weather: it was cold, it was raining, and the wind was literally blowing you off deck, so it was difficult to stay outside all the time. But the fjord was incredibly beautiful even in the rain, and we still spent as much time as we could outside. And yes, we needed really warm and waterproof clothing to actually be able to enjoy it.

Lysefjord is stunning even in the rain

What makes this Lysefjord cruise trip great is that the boat slows down at the most beautiful places and gives you lots of explanation about everything you see along the way. The commentary is available in several languages. There were lots of people on board on the day of our visit, but it never felt crowded.

Our boat even stopped to watch the goats

Can you spot Preikestolen?

Hengjanefossen waterfall is one of the highlights of Lysefjord cruise

Transfer to the Pulpit Rock trailhead

After visiting the fjord, around noon, our boat made a short stop in the tiny harbour of Oanes to drop off the passengers with the combination ticket for the hike. Only a handful of people left the boat together with us. There was a bus waiting for us at the harbour, and 20 minutes later we were at the Preikestolen trailhead.

As I said, it was raining in the morning, but the weather forecast for Preikestolen showed dry weather in the afternoon. So instead of continuing straight to the Pulpit Rock, we decided to have a relaxing lunch first and wait for the rain to stop. And it did!

There is a lodge with a restaurant at the Pulpit Rock trailhead (Preikestolen Mountain Lodge). You can get a snack or a warm meal here, use a bathroom, refill your water bottles, or just warm up on a rainy day. Note that food is extremely expensive here. The cheapest meal is a bowl of soup that costs 98NOK (11EUR), the main fish or meat course costs about 280NOK (30EUR), etc. So you better pack a picnic and some snacks. Actually, these are the standard prices in Norway, except for the cities and bigger places where there is a bit more competition.

Pulpit Rock hike

The hike to Pulpit Rock is about 4km and 2 hours each way (so 8km, 3-4 hours in total). Some experienced hikers will say it’s an easy hike, but for us regular folks it definitely isn’t. It’s a moderate hike with several steep climbs along the way, and you definitely need proper hiking shoes for Preikestolen. In dry weather you might be ok in sneakers, but when it’s wet (and it usually is), you will need sturdy walking shoes with a good grip. The reviews from other travellers show that most people underestimate this hike.

The Pulpit Rock hike is not just about the Preikestolen itself. The scenery along the way is beautiful. And once you get to the top you will be rewarded by the most spectacular view over Lysefjord! We were extremely lucky that it stopped raining and there was no mist, so we could enjoy the view to the fullest.

Scenery along the way to the Pulpit Rock

Preikestolen hike is more than just the Pulpit Rock itself

Don’t forget to stop and enjoy the views along the way!

After a bit less than 2 hours we reached the Pulpit Rock. It was just as spectacular as I had imagined! Also, it was a bit intimidating! The sheer drop of this 604 meter rock is dizzying to say the least, and you better don’t look straight down when you stand on the edge. And please don’t do any stupid things and stay safe!

And then here it was – the Pulpit Rock!

Can you spot me? 😉

The hike back down took us about 1h30.

From Preikestolen back to Stavanger

The trip back to Stavanger requires you to take a bus to Tau and then from there a ferry to Stavanger. There are several bus companies doing this trip. The bus schedule is always in line with the ferry schedule to minimise waiting times. The ticket price for the bus with Boreal is included in the Rodne Pulpit Rock cruise and hike combination ticket. There are busses approximately every hour, so check the schedule before you start your hike so that you know when to start hiking back down. The busses and ferries run till late in the evening in summer, so you have plenty of time to enjoy the hike without having to worry.

The ferry is operated by yet another company and this is the only ticket that is not included in this trip. You have to buy the ticket on the ferry itself, and it costs 56NOK (6EUR) for adults and half price for the children.

We were back at the Preikestolen Mountain Lodge at around 6.20PM. We had to wait 20min for the next bus. At 7.30PM we were on the ferry on the way back to Stavanger. And at 8.15PM we were back at our hotel. It was a long, but a beautiful day. A great start of our two-week Norway trip!

Practical information for Lysefjord cruise and Pulpit Rock hike

There are daily departures with Rodne from Stavanger, from May till September, at 10AM. In addition, there is an additional departure at noon in July and August.

Plan the whole day for the cruise and Preikestolen hike. We took it easy and were back in town after 8PM. If you are in a hurry, you could be back earlier, just plan well.

Lysefjord cruise can be done by anyone, but the Pulpit Rock hike requires good physical condition. Our kids of 6-8 years old could easily do the hike (quicker than us :)).

Dress in layers and carry a rain jacket. Wear good hiking shoes. Pack a picnic and carry plenty of drinking water. You can refill your bottles at Preikestolen Mountain Lodge.

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Comments

Seriously Jurga I cannot believe the views you experienced, and I would totally do this cruise – I’m definitely bookmarking it and checking them out. You photo alone of the pulpit makes me feel nauseous!

Haha, Alex, I am sure you are not the only one! It’s really a surreal feeling standing there and looking down. You would love this area for sure! Nature is spectacular and with the cruise it is also extremely accessible to everyone. But if you hike a bit, I would really recommend the Pulpit Rock hike – it’s simply stunning! Just try to imagine how the views would be when it’s sunny!

It really looks worse than it is, Suzie! We were at least 2-3 meters from all sides. That being said, yes, it’s a place where you have to be really careful. No picture is worth the risks of jumping for joy next to the edge or hanging with your feet down…

I think that you can still do both – Lysefjord cruise and the hike (weather permitting) in November too, Tamsin. But not on the same day. UPDATE 28/8/17: see below – apparently it’s possible to do the combination trip in winter months as well – see below.

You are right! Just checked it again and the combination trips indeed run on certain days in winter too. If I see it right, from Wednesday to Sunday leaving Stavanger at 11AM (November to March). Thanks for sharing this, somehow I thought that combination trips didn’t go in winter. Just wonder how many hours of daylight do you have to finish the hike before it gets dark…

What a spectacular place! I think even 3 metres from the edge might be a bit close for me, but I hear what you say about the safety – it’s just my fear of heights talking. Great advice from you too about maximising your time there. I like that the boat slowed down to give you a good look around.

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Hi, I’m Jurga. A traveller with a camera and a mom of three boys. On this blog I share our family's travel experiences all over the world, coupled with lots of practical information and useful tips. My pictures will inspire you to discover new destinations and my stories will prove that you can take your kids anywhere.Join us as we discover the world one beautiful adventure at a time!Read more about me, my family, and our trips all over the world...